Smithsonian’s leopard cub siblings are healthy, growing

The Smithsonian's clouded leopard cubs are
thriving. The male cub outweighs his female
sibling by about a pound.

The male cub outweighs his female sibling by about a pound. (Courtesy of the Smithsonian National Zoo)

WASHINGTON – The Smithsonian’s clouded leopard cubs are thriving.

The cubs were born at the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute in Front Royal, Va., on Feb. 6.

According to the National Zoo, they just received their first vaccinations and their caregivers have adapted their diet so that it matches their needs and appetites, graduating them from bottle-only feedings to chopped, cooked chicken and a small feline diet recently.

Zoo officials say the male cub weighs almost 3 1/2 pounds and the female cub weighs just over 2 1/2 pounds. When the cubs are 3 1/2 months old, they will move to other zoos for breeding, as recommended by their Species Survival Plan.